Air purifier and moistener for internal-combustion engines



L. 5. HAYES AIR PURIFI'ER AND MOISTENER FOR INTERNAL comsus'nounusmss Filed Juno 6, 1925 awvwtow {es/fa 5. Ha /asp, j W I Patented Oct. 6, 1925.

UNITED STATES 1,556,109 PATENT OFFICE.

LESLIE SCO'TT HAYES, OF LOUISA, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO FRED M.

VINSON, OF LOUISA, KENTUCKY.

AIR PURIFIER AND MOIS'IENER FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Application filed .Tune 6, 1925.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LESLIE Soor'r Hares, a citizen of the United States, residing at Louisa, in the county of Lawrence and State of Kentucky, have invented new and useful Improvements in Air Purifiers and Moisteners for Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to internal combustion engines, and has as its object the provision of means which will insure thorough cleansing of the air introduced into the carburetor, and, additionally, its moistening.

It is well known that an internal combus tion engine operates more efficiently when the air supply for the fuel mixture includes a certain percentage of moisture and water vapor. Moreover, it has also been recognized that it is highly desirable to cleanse and purify the air for the fuel mixture before it passes into the engine, since by doing this there is eliminated a great deal of wear upon the bearings and moving parts and the formation of carbon is materially reduced, thus increasing the power of the en gine and its general efficiency.

An object of the present invention is to affordan improved means for furnishing the carburetor with an adequate supply of cleansed and moistened air, together with a certain amount of water vapor, and to provide a means which will automatically vary the quality or quantity of air supply, together with the percentage of moisture and water vapor as the speed, and also the heat, of the engine increases. In other words, it is desired to vary the supply of air and moisture directly as the speed and heat of the engine varies.

In carrying out the invention there is provided a means of communication between the carburetor and the interior of the cooling system, preferably the unoccupied space in the radiator above the normal water level, so that the carburetor must obtain all of its air supply through the cooling system.

Outside air is conducted to the radiator through a portion of the water of the cooling system so that it is thoroughly cleansed and moistened and then passes through the water vapor in the radiator and onto the carburetor. The invention contemplates the provision of means for conducting the air through the water of the cooling system Serial No. 35,378.

under forced draft, as by means of an air collecting funnel positioned, preferably, forwardly of the engine and connected by a pipe to a portion of the cooling system. If the speed of the vehicle does not provide suflicient forced draft for the air to carry it in adequate quantities through the water of the cooling system the funnel is positioned adjacent the engine cooling fan, or,

instead of a funnel, an air pump may bev provided to force the air to the radiator, from which it is carried to the carburetor by means of the suction of the latter. Any excess supply of air may'passout of the radiator through the usual water overflow, thereby preventing interference with the operation of the carburetor, due to an excessive amount of air. Moreover, it will be found that the use of a forced draft not only insures an adequate supply of air, but also assists in the circulation of the water in the cooling system.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein certain embodiments of the invention isdisclosedz- Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an internal combustion engine, showing the radiator and a portion of the collecting funnel in vertical section.

Figure 2 is a detail View of the construction inlet of the conduit leading from the radiator to the carburetor.

Figure 3 is a section through the'connecting conduit between the radiator and carburetor on substantially the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detail view of the construction at the inlet of the air line to the cooling system, and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary View showing a modified form of the invention.

Referring to the drawings for a more detailed description, 10 indicates, conventionally, an internal co nbustion'engine having a carburetor 11 and a cooling system which includes the usualradiator 12, having a top connection with the engine through a pipe 13, opening at 14 into the radiator. The radiator'has, as is customary,a normally unoccupied space 15 above the normalwater level, and from which any over-supply of water may be conducted through an overflow pipe 16. Behind the radiator. is positioned the air cooling fan 17 driven, as by a belt18, from a motor operated pulley 19.

The portion of the mechanism above described and illustrated is purely conventional, and is explained here simply for the purpose of making clear the apphcation of my invention to the ordinary motor vehlcle power unit.

The carburetor 11 is closed to the outside air, except through a pipe 20, which has its upper open end 21 (Figure 2) located n the unoccupied space of the radiator, thls end being provided with a cap or hood 22, which prevents admission of water to the pipe when the radiator is filled through the filling spout 12. It will be noted (Figure 2) that the hood does not close the end of the pipe so that air may be drawn upwardly beneath the hood, and into the pipe by the carburetor suction. By positioning the pipe inlet above normal water level in the radiator, the carburetor may draw from the radiator such water vapor as is created during the operation of the engine, and the quantity of water vapor will, of course, vary in accordance with the heat and speed of the engine, which is desirable since a larger amount of vapor will be required when the engine is operating at high speed and its heat is comparatively high.

The air for the carburetor is also supplied through the pipe 20, and preliminary to its introduction into thepipe it is preferably cleansed and moistened. The object of the present invention is to supply the air, at least to the radiator space 15, under forced draft so as to insure an adequate supply of the same, and also to assist in the circulation of the water in the cooling system. For this purpose a collector or funnel 23 is located to receive air as the vehicle moves, and may, for this purpose, be positioned behind the radiator and in advance of the engine. The funnel is connected by means of a pipe 24 with the pipe 13, which joins the engine with the radiator.

This connection may be effected by means of a coupling collar 25 (Figure 4) which is threaded upon anipple 26 in pipe 13, and

. between the collar and nipple, the end of the pipe 24: may be clamped, together with an air screen 27, which should be of very fine mesh to insure a thorough. breaking up of the air stream entering the .pipe13. This air will mix with the water in the cooling system which is passing through the pipe 13 to the radiator and will thereby be thoroughly cleaned and moistened. The force of the air will also assist in the circulation of the water in the cooling system, and when the air enters the radiator, it will mix with the water vapor before entering the open end 21 of pipe 20. Any excess air may be discharged through a water overflow pipe 16, and thus the force of the air entering the radiator will not effect materially the operation of the carshown as completely housing the fan buretor which sucks the purified and mixed air together with the water vapor beneath the hood 22 into the pipe 20.

It will be noted that the collecting funnel 23 for the air is positioned (Figure 1) behind the fan 17 so that the air driven by the .fan may pass either entirely or partially through the pipe 2 1 into the cooling system. Obviously, the quantity of air which the fan directs into the cooling system will be varied by changing the size of the funnel. In the present instance it is and receiving the entire volume of the air current created thereby, but obviously if a smaller funnel is employed it will be positioned to the rear of the fan and will receive only a portion of the air current which the fan creates.

In the conduit 20, which connects the carburetor and the radiator, there should be provided some means for collecting the water of condensation and preventing its introduction into the carburetor. Any suitable means may be inserted in the conduit for this purpose. In the drawings there is shown a trap or U-bend 29 having an opening 30 therein, which is covered by a piece of felt 31, or other suitable means which will collect the water accumulating in the bend. The felt may be secured in position by means of a strap 32 encircling the pipe 20.

Referring to Figure 5, the modification here shown varies from that illustrated in Figure 1 only in that, insteadof the funnel 23, there may be provided an airpump 33 having an inlet 34L and connected by means of a pipe 35 with the cooling system. The

rotor or driven member of the pump may be actuated from the fan belt 18, which engages a pulley 35 upon the pump shaft. It will be understood that air is forced through the pipe 35 into the cooling system and through a portion of the water thereof by means of which it is thoroughly cleansed and moistened. In the space 15 the air will mix with the water vapor and from there will be drawn by the carburetor suction to the carburetor through pipe 20.

Obviously, the, structure illustrated and described may be modified materially without departing'from the invention, the gist of which resides in the provision of means for introducing air under forced draft into and through the water of the cooling system to purify and moisten the air, and also in mixing this air with the water vapor formed in the radiator. The positive forcing action effected by the funnel (Figure 1) or the air pump (Figure 5) insures an adequate supply of air and assists in the circulation of the cooling water. Because of this draft the air may, if desirable, be passed through a considerable portion of the cooling system and at the same time be supplied in adequate volume to the carburetor. The overflow pipe 16, such as is ordinarily provided in the radiator, will permit discharge of any excess air, and hence this air will not disturb the normal operation of the carburetor.

It being understood that the foregoing description is merely illustrative of the invention, and in no way is intended to define the same, the invention being defined by the following claims, what I claim is:

1. The combination with an internal combustion engine having a circulatory water cooling system including a radiator and a carburetor connected with the engine, of a pipe leading from the interior of said radiator to the carburetor to conduct cleansed and moistened air and watervapor thereto, said carburetor being closed to outside air except through said pipe, and means for in troducing outside air under forced draught to said cooling system and through a portion of the water therein to the radiator, said means being supplementary to the carbure tor suction;

2. The combination with an internal combustion engine having a circulatory water cooling system including a radiator and a carburetor connected with the engine, of a pipe leading from the interior of said radiator to the carburetor to conduct cleansed and moistened air and water vapor thereto, said carburetor being closed to outside air except through said pipe, and means for introducing outside air under forced draught to said cooling system and through a portion of the water therein to the radiator, said means being supplementary to the carburetor suction and being adapted to vary automatically the volume of air introduced in accordance with the speed of the motor.

3. The combination with an internal combustion engine having a circulatory water cooling system including a radiator and a carburetor connected with the engine, of a pipe leading from the interior of said radiator above the normal water level to the carburetor to conduct cleansed and moistened air and water vapor thereto, said carburetor being closed to outside air except through said pipe, and means for introducing outside air under forced draught to said cooling system and through a portion of the water therein to a space above the water level in the radiator, said means being supplementary to the carburetor suction.

4. The combination with an internal combustion engine having a circulatory water cooling system including a radiator and a carburetor connected with the engine, of a pipe leading from the interior of said radiator above the normal water level to the carburetor to conduct cleansed and moistened air and water vapor thereto, said carburetor being closed to outside air except through said pipe, and means for introducing outside air under forced draught to said cooling system and through a portion of the water therein to a space above the water level in the radiator, said means comprising an air collecting funnel and a pipe leading therefrom to the interior of the circulating system.

5. The combination with an internal combustion engine having a motor driven fan in advance of the engine, a circulatory water cooling system including a radiator and a carburetor connected with the engine, of a pipe leading from the interior of said radiator above the normal water level to the carburetor to conduct cleansed and moistened air and water vapor thereto, said carburetor being closed to outside air except through said pipe, and means for introducing outside air under forced draught to said cooling sys tem and through a portion of the water therein to a space above the water level in the radiator, said means comprising an air collecting funnel positioned behind the motor cooling fan and a pipe leading therefrom to the interior of the circulating system.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

LESLIE SCOTT HAYES. 

